Petition · past parliament
Make landlords provide references from previous tenants.
Closed
363 signatures
What the petition asks
Landlords looking to rent out their property privately must provide references from previous tenants.
This is to demonstrate they are legitimate landlords who do not illegally evict tenants and correctly carry out repairs when an issue is highlighted.
This is to demonstrate they are legitimate landlords who do not illegally evict tenants and correctly carry out repairs when an issue is highlighted.
At present tenants are required to provide references from former landlords or employers to evidence they would be good tenants, though this requirement is not reciprocated by landlords.
This gives landlords more power than tenants, and means that tenants are not given an adequate history of the landlord.
It is unacceptable that tenants are expected to provide references as part of a tenancy sign up, though landlords aren't required to do the same.
This gives landlords more power than tenants, and means that tenants are not given an adequate history of the landlord.
It is unacceptable that tenants are expected to provide references as part of a tenancy sign up, though landlords aren't required to do the same.
Timeline
| 27 Jul 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 27 Jan 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
363
Status
Closed
Opened
27 Jul 2020
Closed
27 Jan 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.